Convertible seat structure



April 8, 1947. A. 1.. NELSON CONVERTIBLE SEAT STRUCTURE Filed May 1,1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l YJNVENTOR, AUGIE L.NELSON ATTORNEYS April 8, 1947.

A. L. NELSON CONVERTIBLE SEAT STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1,1944 INVENTOR. AUGI E L. NELSON BY T I WWww/WHSM ATTORNEYS iv PatentedApr. 8, 1947 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE 2,418,787 CUNVERTIBLE SEATSTRUCTURE Augie L. Nelsonefirand Rapids, Mich, assignor to Hayes-Manufacturin,g' Corporation, Grand Rapids, Mich a corporation of.Michigan Application May 1, 194.4,SerialN0. 533,559

in a number of different-positions, inc1uding ,.one,-

a normal position foruse by aseated occupant;

'two, a position where both the. seat. and the back are turned to clearthe floor space; and; three, a position which forms an elevatedplatform-on which the occupant 'may stand. To this endthe inventionconsists inthe construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the seatinnormal' position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the framewithout the seat and backcushions in a position for clearing the floor;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to-Fig. 2 with the-parts in position to form anelevated platform;

Fig. l is asectiona-l side elevation-illustratin the swinging movementof the linksintodi-fier ent positions of adjustment;

Fig. 5 isa perspective viewshowingamodified e construction The frame formy. improved seat is chiefl formed of pressed sheet metal members'whichwhen assembled will. form a rigidstructure in each of its positions ofadjustment. This. frame comprises apair of side members A'each havin anangle flange A projecting outward from the base thereof; inwardly turnedangle-flanges A at the opposite vertical edges anda segment A at theupper end centrally apertured'for a pivot.

The two members A are cross connectedby a bar B preferably of channelsection which bar is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the edgeflanges A near the upper ends thereof. "The flanges A are apertured forboltswliich formsa rigid attachment to the floor of the vehicle andprovided with opposite upwardlyextending- "side "plate C extendsforwardit will rest upon the cross bar Bto' be held in a substantiallyhorizontal position slightly inclined upward toward the front. 'E'is aback-plate which is connected to the member C 'by links F. These linksare preferably secured by the same bolts (3 that secure the flanges C'.tothemembers A. The oppositeend of each "linkf' is pivotally connectedto a side flange E tothe member Eby bolts or screws E G is a bracerodpivotally attached at its lower end to the member A while its upperend is connected by aboltG with a slotted bearing E in the flange E. Theslot extends rearward and downward from near the forward end of theflange E and permits movement of the pivot bolt G along the same incertain adjustments of the frame. The proportion of the links F and rodsG is such that in the position shown in Fig. 1 both of these membersextend upward and slightly rearward with the pivot G at the inner end ofthe slot E Stop flanges A secured to the members A will limit therearward movement of the rod "G, to hold the parts in a position wherethe back cushion H attached to the plate E inclines slightly rearward.The links F are provided with stop portions F", F -and F The stopportions F and F are adapted to bear against the plate C and limitthe-free angular movement of said links" with respect to said plate toless than The stop portion F limits the rearward turning movement-"oithe back member E on its pivots E Thus, in "the position shown in Fig. 3and by the stops F and the brace rod G having its bolt G'- 'attheforward end of the slot E This forms arigid standing platform. In thepositionshown in'full lines, Fig. 4, and also in Fig. 1, links Fare swunto the rearward limit of free movement imposed by the stops F and thebolts Gcf the rods G are at the lower end of the side flanges C areattache'dto'the members-2A v by bolts C extending through aperaimresinithe 'members A and forming a pivotal connection.

The position of thepivots is suchthat whenithe 'fiomembers 'G havetheirbolts G at the upper'ends of the =slotsE Withthe construction as thusdescribed, it will be understood'that the frame :is normally in theposition as shown in Fig. 1 which forms a seat. If the occupant desiresto stand, it is only necessary to lift the forward edge of the plate Cturning it rearward. upon the pivot C until it assumes a verticalposition. During this rearward swinging movement the links F turndownward and the pivot G travels outward in the slot E therebypermitting the back plate E and cushion H to drop downward. Thus, at thecompletion of the movement the cushions H and D are arranged parallel toeach other with their upper edges in substantially the same horizontalplane. Also, all of these parts are in rear of the members A leaving thefloor space in front of said members unobstructed. The parts may beframe, a seat member pivotally connected at its rear end to said frameand resting thereon in a normal substantially horizontal position fromwhich it may be swung on its pivotal connection to an upright position,a back member having three positions, one in normal relation to thedown-turned seat member, another in superposed relation thereto toconstitute a standing platform, and the third in parallelism with theupturned seat member, and a linkage for supporting said back member ineach of said positions including a pair of links pivotally connected attheir lower ends to said seat member on opposite sides thereof andhaving stop portions for limiting locked in the position shown in Fig. 2by a sliding bolt I attached to one of the flanges C. and adapted toengage akeeper notch I at the top of the segment A If an elevatedplatform is desired, the cushion H and plate E are swung forward fromthe position shown in Fig. 1 continuing the movement until the partsassume the position shown in Fig. 3. Here it will be noted that both thelinks F and rods G incline forward from pivotal connections to themembers A. The forward movement is, however, limited when the pivots Greach the forward ends of the slots E and in this position the plate Eis horizontal. t will, therefore, form a stable platform on which theoccupant may stand.

vFig. 5 illustrates a wider seat intended for two or more occupants.With such construction, it may be necessary to provide additionalsupport and I have illustrated a central folding brace for this purpose.As shown, J is a brace bar pivotally attached at'its lower end to afloor bracket J and at its upper end pivotally attached to a centralcross bar K on the bottom of the seat.

The screw K forms the pivotal attachment and this engages a slottedbearing K in the bar K so that when the seat is turned up this screwwill slide to the lower end of the slot, while in the normal position itslides to the outer end.

Thus the center of the seat will be supported to prevent sagging.

What I claim as my invention is:

'1. A structure for alternatively forming a seat and a rigid standingplatform comprising a frame, a seat member and a back member, said seatmember being pivotally connected at its rear end to said frame andresting thereon in a normal substantially horizontal position from whichit may be swung on said pivotal connecticn to an upright position, 'saidback member having one position in normal relation to said seat memberand another position in superposed relation thereto to constitute astanding platform, and a linkage for supporting said back member in eachof said positions to be movable from the one to the other, said linkageincluding a pair of links between said seat member and back member onopposite sides thereof and having stop portions for limiting the freeangular movement with respect to said seat member to a predetermineddegree, a pair of brace members pivotally connected at their lower endsto said frame at points below the pivotal connection to said seat memberand at their upper ends having a pivotal and limited sliding connectionwith the upper portion of said backmember, and

stops on said frame for limiting the rearward swinging movement of saidbrace members.

2. A structure for alternatively forming a, seat and a rigid standingplatform comprising a their free angular movement with respect to said"seat member to a predetermined degree, the upper ends of said linksbeing pivotally connected to the lower portion of said back member, apair of brace members having their lower ends pivotally connected tosaid frame at points below the pivotal connection of said seat memberand having at their upper ends pivotal and limited sliding connectionswith the upper portion of said back member, and stops on said frame forlimiting the rearward swinging movement of said brace members;

3. A structure for alternatively forming a seat and a rigid standingplatform comprising a frame, a seat member pivotally connected at itsrear end to said frame to swing from a normal substantially horizontalposition to an upright position, a back member, and a linkage betweensaid frame, back member and seat including a pair of links pivotallyconnected at their lower ends to said seat member and having stopportions for limiting the free angular movement thereof, the upper endof said links being pivotally connected to the lower portion of saidback member, a pair of brace members pivotall connected at their lowerends to said frame at points below the pivotal connection with said seatmemher and at their upper ends having a limited sliding pivotalconnection with the upper portion of said back member, and stops on saidframe for limiting the rearward swinging movement of said brace members;whereby in the downturned position of said seat member said back is heldin normal relation thereto while the forward swinging movement of saidlinks and brace members will arrange said back member in superposedrelation to said seat member and will rigid- 1y support the same for astanding platform and whereby the turning of said seat member into itsupright position will lower said back member into parallelism therewith.

4. A structure for alternatively forming a seat and a rigid standingplatform comprising a frame, a seat member pivotally connected at itsrear 'end to said frame to swing from a normal substantially horizontalposition to an upright position, a back member, and a linkage betweensaid frame, back member and seat including a pair of links pivotallyconnected at their lower ends to said seat member and having stopportions for limiting the free angular movement thereof, the upper endsof said links being pivotally connected to the lower portion of saidback member, a pair of brace members pivotally connected at'their lowerends to said frame at points ing the rearward swinging movement of saidREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Ehlman July 24, 1866 HamiltonFeb. 2, i886 Ruethin Dec. 10, 1901 Koch June 11, 1895 Harrison May 9,1905 Shupe Sept. 29, 1885 Koechling Sept. 29, 1874 Hard May 22, 1923FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date v England July 21, 1936

